An Outlier?

Why would Muhammed Ali be a hero of mine?  When he first hit the scene, he was brash, loud, pompous, and called people names. He even called Joe Frazier an Uncle Tom.  He was the opposite of things I cherish in my life: humility, quiet, and respectfulness.  He made his living knocking people temporarily unconscious. I love peacefulness.  So, what was the attraction?

My introduction to boxing was watching Friday Night Fights with my dad in the early 60s. It was an actual prime time network show.  We both used to cheer for a boxer named Denny Moyer. I just googled him. He died in 2010 with a record of 89 and 34!

My introduction to Muhammed Ali was probably when he won the Heavyweight Championship against Sonny Liston in 1964.  After that victory his brashness and pomposity only increased. But still….there was something about him.

One reason is that he represented the changing times of the ’60s. Everything was changing then, music, fashion, politics, and attitudes toward life.  Ali was something we had never seen before. He was a product of his times.

Another reason is that it was mostly just an act. Ali truly loved people. I found that out later in life as I read more about him. And , yes, he loved the attention. But to catch him in the quiet moments, especially with children, he appeared to be a wonderful man.

The final reason is that he was a man of principle. In the prime of his boxing career he spent time in prison for avoiding the draft. He was a staunch opponent of the Viet Nam War and was willing to give up his career and spend time in prison to stand up for his beliefs. In other words, he was willing to accept the consequences of his actions.

Last week I saw the sports photography exhibit at Allentown Art Museum. There was a section of a room devoted to Ali. The first photo is probably the most famous. It is Ali glowering over his defeated, and horizontal, opponent Sonny Liston.  You would know this photo.  That picture captures his essence.The glower, the brashness, and yet, if you look closely, there is a bit of a twinkle in his eye.

Ali is gone from us now, but wow what a life!  I think the ultimate connection between Ali and me is that love of life and taking advantage of what it has to offer.  Of course, I wasn’t as successful as him nor do I have the same strength of principles. But he is still, to this day, someone I look up to.

Storm clouds are brewing in the Lehigh Valley today. Look for alternate picnic spots!